Top-seeded Raonic into semifinals

San Jose, CA (Sports Network) - Top-seeded and two-time defending champion
Milos Raonic got the best of Denis Istomin in a rematch of last year's final
at San Jose during Friday's quarterfinal action at the SAP Open.

Raonic had 14 aces and needed just one hour and 20 minutes to dispose of the
Uzbekistan native, winning in straight sets, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3 at HP Pavilion.

Over the course of his career, the 22-year-old Canadian has yet to lose in San
Jose and is trying to become the first player in the Open Era to capture three
Bay Area titles in a row.

In order to do so, Raonic will have to get through third-seeded American Sam
Querrey, who avoided the jaws of defeat by rallying late in the third set to
claim a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 decision over Colombian Alejandro Falla.

Second-seeded American John Isner advanced to the semifinals here for the
first time in his career by narrowly escaping a first set tiebreaker before
breezing through the second set in taking a 7-6 (10-8), 6-2 decision for a
third straight victory over Belgium's Xavier Malisse.

Isner will take on fourth-seeded former world No. 2 Tommy Haas of Germany, who
topped American wild card and former NCAA champion Steve Johnson, 6-4, 6-2.
It's Haas' first semifinal appearance in San Jose since 2005.